100 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



the others; at the end of two years tlic order is reversed, seeding those cul- 

 tivated and cultivatinji' tliose which liad been in clover, using fertilizers 

 if necessary to secure a strong growth of the clover. By this method but 

 half the area is cultivated at any one time. The fertility is supplied at 

 little expense, and a fair growth of the tree obtained at the same time. 



To the fifth essential, or pruning, we would apply the rule of '''i)runing 

 in summer for fi-uit and in winter for growth of tree," that is, when the 

 tree is making its most vigorous growth, preferably in June, and when it 

 is dormant. The former to be used upon vigorous growing and shy-bearing 

 varieties only. Summer pruning checks the growth of the tree and the 

 tendency is to form fruit buds instead, which is in accordance with a law 

 of the vegetable kingdom, that when the life of a plant is seriously 

 injured, the first effort of nature is to reproduce itself before it dies. 

 Nature's object is to produce seed, not fruit. We see this law exemplified 

 occasionally by a dying tree, blossoming and setting its fruit up 1o the 

 last year of its life, dropping its fruit when the tree becomes exhausted 

 and then dying. 



Florists recognize this law by checking the growth of their flowering 

 plants, when growing vigorously and do not blossom. The flowers they 

 seek are nature's effort to produce seed. We depend upon sunshine and 

 potash to color our fruit, and as the former is cheaper and much more 

 easily applied, open heads, permitting the rays of the sun to reach most 

 of the specimens, are desirable. If large branches are removed, paint all 

 stubs more than inch in diameter. 



The sixth essential, or thinning, is being practiced more than formerly 

 and is one of the important elements to complete success. It is the grow- 

 ing of the seed of the apple and pear, the pit of the ])eac]i and the 

 plum, that exhausts the soil, and the tree. The small specimens contain 

 as many as the large ones and consequently are equally exhaustive ; our 

 aim, then, should be to produce more pulp and less seed. 



The earlier the thinning is done the better, removing inferior fruits and 

 leaving the specimens six or eight inches apart. At the last meeting of 

 the State Horticultural Society there was abundant evidence of the great 

 importance of thinning. 



The seventh essential is spraying. As remarked at the outset, this sub- 

 ject has been very thoroughly taught and so recently that little can be 

 added, especially since the very exhaustive article by Professor Taft in 

 the National Fruit Grower. I would, however, offer a word of warning 

 against changing the formula 4-4-50 to six pounds of copper sulphate, as 

 occasionally recommended, as four pounds last season caused a roughness 

 on the side of the apple receiving the direct force of the spray, but would 

 increase the anu)unt of lime to five pounds, changing the usual foriiuila 

 to 4-5-50. The first a})plicati()n before the l)uds open, with copper sulphate 

 solution, for all fungous diseases, is perha])s the most important one and 

 should not be neglected, making the second application with Bordeaux 

 mixture within two weeks after the blossoms fall, if possible. 



